Indian Spiritual Traditions Any spiritual tradition that has ...

Joëlle Dave

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Indian Spiritual Traditions

Any spiritual tradition that has originated on the Indian subcontinent is Indian. The ancient name of India as a political entity isBharatavarsha(=HJL4), and the ancient name of the Indian subcontinent isBharata khanda(HJB).

The word Hindu is not Indian; it is a word of Persian origin. Also, there is no Indian word corresponding to the wordreligion. The worddharma(N4) , meaning “the adopted principle,” refers to any principle which an individual or group of individuals adopt to follow as part of their conduct. Famously, Buddha adoptedahimsa ()EDI=), “no cruelty,” as his topmost dharma. When it comes to people connecting with God, India has sampradaya(I@=O), “traditions.”

All the traditions of India are inspired by the Vedas. The Vedas are the earliest extant writings of the human mind; the oldest scriptures in the world. A tradition which directly relies on the Vedas is called a Vedic tradition, orvaidikasampradaya(L-E@I@=O). The most eminent spiritual leaders, oracharya()=?=O4), meaning “pathmakers,” of the Vedic traditions in modern times have beenSankara(H), in the 6th century C.E.,Ramanuja(H==K), born in 1027 C.E., andMadhva(:L), born in 1199 C.E.

Among the traditions which do not directly rely on the Vedas, the Jaina traditions rely on the life and teachings ofRishabhadeva(@AL), as evidenced in the 1st century B.C.E., and twentythree other Jaina spiritual leaders, calledtirthankara(J1M4H), “stepmakers,” or makers of a flight of steps, culminating in Vardhamana Mahavira Jina(LN4= D=L1H E), born in 599 B.C.E. The followers ofSiddhartha Gautama Buddha (EIb=M4 C=-J >Kb), borncirca 567B.C.E., base their traditions on the life and teachings of the Buddha. In recent times, the Sikh traditions have relied on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev, 1469 C.E. 1539 C.E., and the nine other gurus who followed him.

Some Jews are believed to have settled down in India after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusa lem. Apostle Thomas is believed to have lived and died in India. The followers of Zarathustra resettled in India after the Arabs invaded their native Persia in 610 C.E. and forced the Persians to become Muslims. Islam was forced upon Indians by the Mughal invaders (1526 C.E  1707 C.E.). Numerous Indians were proselytized to Christianity during the British presence in India between 1600 C.E. and 1947 C.E. The followers of these religions in India have also been noticeably influenced by the spiritual traditions of India.

All traditions in India believe in one God. The Indian word for God isNarayana(=H=O'). It is a spiritual name in Sanskrit signifying the creation of the cosmos. God is referred to variously asParamatma(FH=6=), “the ultimate soul,”Parameshvara(FHA*H), “the ultimate lord,” and so forth. All creation is created by and from the ultimate source described asparamatattva(FHJ+L), “the ultimate thatness.” That entity is pure spirit,cit(E?J,), “consciousness.” It is calledbrahma(.), meaning “the creative principle.” As respon sible for the “creation” of the universe,sarga(IC4), God is referred to asBrahma(.=), “the Creator.” As responsible for the phenomenon of “stability” in the created state,sthiti(E5MEJ), God is referred to asVishnu (EL0'K), meaning the “allpervasive” God. As responsible for the phenomenon of “change” or transforma tion in the created state,laya(O), God is referred to asShiva(EL), meaning God “in whom everything ‘sleeps’ (or lies dormant or inactive).”

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